2014 Vuelta a España, Stage 15: Oviedo → Lagos de Covadonga (152Km)

[DFA123]

Well I don't think the attack stop that we saw today is the best strategy to gain time.

Certainly not, but that's the way Contador generally tries to gain time on climbs. When on top form he sustains the attacks long enough to go solo and then can settle into more of a rhythm. He just can't sustain them for more than 20 seconds at the moment though.

The spanner in the works is that Froome isn't interested in the slightest in following his attacks. Might be time to re-evaluate for Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I think Contador fans are absolutely terrified of a Dawg resurgence (to be fair, so am I), hence they're becoming a bit irrational expecting the Spanish trio to work together to eliminate Froome.

But it's not that easy. They are opponents, and while gaining on Froome is desirable, so is dropping Contador and playing to one's strength.

I am terrified of the wheelsucker grabbing enough seconds in the sprints to win the whole damn race.

 

[Donkey]

Best post here. Valverde raced the smartest of all the top guys.

BS, he would be able to get the same time to AC if he shared the pace more.
But Valverde was only a half coward, Purito's career is something so silly that it's unbelievable, he's simply a good example of total idiot. I'm glad he's never won any GT because he's not a champion.

I hope Alberto's attacks were not 100% and he was the one who saved the most energy for tomorrow. As tomorrow the stage is very different I think he should be comfortable with the lead he has and do a bit wheelsucking with tongue in cheek. Once Froome makes his way back Bertie should follow him if Froome's good or attack 2km brutal. Stage 20 Froome and BEertie will make 30 secs. on those two jerks, Aru will win and they're both off the podium. )))))

 

[sir fly]

If Valverde had gone to the front and done pacing there is no guarentee that he would have won the stage. He might have just given Contador a break to enable him to attack harder and drop him.

Everyone has been saying Rodriguez is not quite at his best yet he was supposed be super strong today. A real contradiction.

Rodriguez was racing for the Vuelta win today, he was trying to drop Contador and Valverde. He attacked them as hard as he could a couple of times, he just was not strong enough.

While Contador was clearly racing against Froome, Valverde and Rodriguez were clearly doing their best to take time off Contador. They did not want to help him because they wanted to beat him and they did although only by a small margin.

With that kind of a strategy, Valverde and Rodriguez might have a shot at the Red jersey in the tt.
And we all know how dominant they are in the discipline.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Certainly not, but that's the way Contador generally tries to gain time on climbs. When on top form he sustains the attacks long enough to go solo and then can settle into more of a rhythm. He just can't sustain them for more than 20 seconds at the moment though.

The spanner in the works is that Froome isn't interested in the slightest in following his attacks. Might be time to re-evaluate for Contador.

That last part is right on, I think. Will we see a different TS strategy in the MTFs from here on out? Let the break win and control the leaders' group from second or third wheel.

Or Contador will just do what he always does when his legs feel decent: attack.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

The only reason he (Froome) did not lose time in today and on the last mountain stage was because of his pacing. ... It's the perfect way for him to actually lose a lot of time

Same was said yesterday and it didn´t happen. So you guys go for 3 in a row tomorrow?
Predicting that Froome loses a lot, and the predictions fail again?

Where is the difference? He did exact the same thing as yesterday & some days ago; "pacing" his way back, while the attacks by AC & Co. were basically fruitless (actually they killed AC more than they gained him), besides some seconds with boni...

As I said the most likely outcome is as the stage before. Namely break to win, and Froome to close gaps. I like my "prediction" (even though Froome didn´t gain some seconds but lost some) more than the well thought expert ones. It was a lot closer than the bold predictions.

Contador will get dropped by Rodriguez and Froome and Valverde and maybe Aru

Short, with humour against the bold predictions... and the closest to reality. LOL. Good job, even though it wasn´t meant serious.

 

[Arredondo]

If you look at the results, you really see how hard they rode in the final.

(on Valverde)
Uran + 55 sec
Gesink + 1.02
Sanchez + 1.41
D Caruso + 2.09
Navarro + 2.09
Kelderman + 2.55
Anacona + 3.10
Pardilla + 4.56
Chaves + 11.10

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Valverde winning the stage and gaining 5 seconds on Contador in 3rd.

11 seconds gain total.

Valverde finishing second on the stage and not working with Contador gaining 5 seconds on Contador in 4th.

11 seconds gain total.

Indeed but it's a long race and Valverde's only chance of winning is for Contador to tire which isn't going to happen if he helps him. A bit like Hoste working with Boonen at the end of Flanders

 

[roundabout]

If you look at the results, you really see how hard they rode in the final.

(on Valverde)
Uran + 55 sec
Gesink + 1.02
Sanchez + 1.41
D Caruso + 2.09
Navarro + 2.09
Kelderman + 2.55
Anacona + 3.10
Pardilla + 4.56
Chaves + 11.10

I'll wait for the comparison with 2012 climb times instead

 

[jaylew]

Don't really get how Froome is the biggest threat to Contador here. Where is he gonna make time on Berto?
Valverde is only 30 seconds behind and looks very hard to drop if he doesn't attack first.

Exactly.

He refused to help close a gap of a handfull of seconds that would have given him the stagewin and bonus-seconds.

Please explain again why it is not in Valverdes interest to drop a rider who is in a position to overtake him at the TT?

So, who exactly is in a position to overtake him? Froome is going to take a minute in a 9-10k tt?

Looks like most posters are extremely furious with rage that Valverde didn't put in a shift for Contador. Yesterday they probably laughed when he attacked early and ended up losing 25 seconds.

This.

Valverde cannot win this race if it's him vs Contador - I think everyone can see that.

But if Froome is still there there's a good chance that Froome and Contador end up beating each other. Like in the Dauphine. If Valverde wants to to win this is the best way to go in this race. If he wants to lose he should continue with the crowd-pleasing attacks he did yesterday

And this.

If Valverde works with Contador that REALLY would be a case of riding for 2nd place

He should give a rats a$$ about Froome, because he's going to lose a place to Froome at this rate.

At this rate? When exactly has Froome taken time from him this Vuelta? Oh yeah, when he tried to attack and blew himself. "At this rate" he'll beat Froome by 1:40. Remember, he also took time from Froome in the TT.

 

[Arredondo]

BS, he would be able to get the same time to AC if he shared the pace more.
But Valverde was only a half coward, Purito's career is something so silly that it's unbelievable, he's simply a good example of total idiot. I'm glad he's never won any GT because he's not a champion.

I hope Alberto's attacks were not 100% and he was the one who saved the most energy for tomorrow. As tomorrow the stage is very different I think he should be comfortable with the lead he has and do a bit wheelsucking with tongue in cheek. Once Froome makes his way back Bertie should follow him if Froome's good or attack 2km brutal. Stage 20 Froome and BEertie will make 30 secs. on those two jerks, Aru will win and they're both off the podium. )))))

Behind your computer it's easy right?

He even attacked 3x times himself, but couldn't drop the guys! God, what did he do wrong?

never mind, i shouldn't react to such silly guys.

But the CN moderators approve members calling riders total idiots? I think good manners are also important on a forum.

 

[roundabout]

Exactly. Rodriguez did the best attack against Contador on this stage.

Shame that he also doesn't seem to have it in him to sustain his attacks

 

[mr. tibbs]

[...] When exactly has Froome taken time from him this Vuelta? Oh yeah, when he tried to attack and blew himself. [...]

To be fair, I'd probably lose a fair bit of time if I did that in the middle of a race, too.

 

[Red Rick]

Same was said yesterday and it didn´t happen. So you guys go for 3 in a row tomorrow?
Predicting that Froome loses a lot, and the predictions fail again?

Where is the difference? He did exact the same thing as yesterday & some days ago; "pacing" his way back, while the attacks by AC & Co. were basically fruitless (actually they killed AC more than they gained him), besides some seconds with boni...

As I said the most likely outcome is as the stage before. Namely break to win, and Froome to close gaps. I like my "prediction" (even though Froome didn´t gain some seconds but lost some) more than the well thought expert ones. It was a lot closer than the bold predictions.



Short, with humour against the bold predictions... and the closest to reality. LOL. Good job, even though it wasn´t meant serious.

I think you got me wrong, I actually meant that putting in a big attack was the perfect way for Froome to loose a lot of time

 

[Rollthedice]

I am terrified of the wheelsucker grabbing enough seconds in the sprints to win the whole damn race.

I could simply mean Contador is not strong enough to drop the wheelsucker.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

With that kind of a strategy, Valverde and Rodriguez might have a shot at the Red jersey in the tt.
And we all know how dominant they are in the discipline.

Rodriguez is really bad TTer, Valverde though is not too bad. I doubt he can beat Contador but coming into the TT having to beat Contador for a few seconds is probably a better chance than trying to attack in the mountains.

There is still question marks about Contador and his leg, Valverde having done the Tour and Rodriguez having an interrupted season and how that might effect them. One of them could have a very bad day in one of the remaining stages.

 

[search]

are there issues with the timing or have 100+ riders missed the time cut?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Exactly. Rodriguez did the best attack against Contador on this stage.

Shame that he also doesn't seem to have it in him to sustain his attacks

Extending this a bit. No one seems able to sustain the pace after an attack here.

Looks somewhat realistic.

 

[jaylew]

BS, he would be able to get the same time to AC if he shared the pace more.
But Valverde was only a half coward, Purito's career is something so silly that it's unbelievable, he's simply a good example of total idiot. I'm glad he's never won any GT because he's not a champion.

Did you actually watch the race? Purito attacked a couple of times including early and also had to respond to AC's attacks. What exactly was he supposed to do? The human body can only do so much.

And what would have probably have happened if Valverde had set the pace? AC would have attacked him and he likely wouldn't have been able to respond and would have lost time instead of gaining it.

 

[red_flanders]

To be fair, I'd probably lose a fair bit of time if I did that in the middle of a race, too.

I see what you did there.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

I think you got me wrong, I actually meant that putting in a big attack was the perfect way for Froome to loose a lot of time

OK. I give you the benefit of doubt.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I could simply mean Contador is not strong enough to drop the wheelsucker.

Well, duh. Obviously.

 

[Arredondo]

Rodriguez is really bad TTer, Valverde though is not too bad. I doubt he can beat Contador but coming into the TT having to beat Contador for a few seconds is probably a better chance than trying to attack in the mountains.

There is still question marks about Contador and his leg, Valverde having done the Tour and Rodriguez having an interrupted season and how that might effect them. One of them could have a very bad day in one of the remaining stages.

The TT is only 10 km, and Purito is quite good in short distance time trials. Just watch TT's of a similiar distance in Catalunya, PN..

But he would need 30 seconds to be safe for sure

 

[LaFlorecita]

Totally agree. And so are his fans.

Uhm, I think you'll find most of his fans are concerned about Valverde.

 

[sir fly]

Rodriguez is really bad TTer, Valverde though is not too bad. I doubt he can beat Contador but coming into the TT having to beat Contador for a few seconds is probably a better chance than trying to attack in the mountains.

There is still question marks about Contador and his leg, Valverde having done the Tour and Rodriguez having an interrupted season and how that might effect them. One of them could have a very bad day in one of the remaining stages.

I think that Valverde and Rodriguez should ride more courageously, 'cause it seems that Contador is constantly on the limit. They are running out of the road.
This way, they might finish fighting agains each other for a podium place instead for the overall victory.